"You can see in everything that what he’s doing isn’t down to luck" – Vincent van der Voort impressed by Brody Klinge after sensational Australian Darts Masters final run
Brody Klinge’s performances at the Australian Darts Masters also impressed Vincent van der Voort. The Australian emerged as one of the tournament’s big surprises at this World Series event and even reached the final. According to Van der Voort, that was anything but luck. The former pro sees clear qualities in Klinge, believes we will hear much more from him, and even tips him as a potential PDC Tour Card winner.
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Klinge made an excellent impression at the Australian Darts Masters, taking out several established names along the way. He beat Ross Smith, Gian van Veen, and Jonny Clayton in succession. In the final he had to bow to James Wade, but his run to the title match drew plenty of attention.
Van der Voort saw a player who stayed remarkably composed under pressure. “He’s just got a really good throw. You can see in everything that what he’s doing isn’t down to luck,” the Dutchman said on the podcast Darts Draait Door. According to Van der Voort, Klinge has a natural game and is not easily overawed by an opponent’s name or reputation.
“You can see that he plays very calmly and he doesn’t seem impressed by his opponent,” Van der Voort analysed. That mindset, he argues, may have been a key factor in the Australian’s impressive run. Klinge faced several tough opponents in Australia yet held firm, showing he can match the level of the established names.
The final appearance could also be a key moment in Klinge’s development. His results raise his profile within the international darts scene and may prompt him to consider a move onto the global circuit. Yet Van der Voort points to a major hurdle for players from outside Europe.
The Dutchman notes that a move to Europe is not as simple as it can seem. “That’s obviously difficult. If you have a family, you don’t just say: guys, I’m off to Europe. See you.” For Australian players, the distance is huge and a European career comes with significant costs.
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Van der Voort stresses that many players travelling to Q-School don’t fully consider what it takes afterwards to actually build a professional career. “Many people forget that when they go to Q-School. They go from Belgium to the Netherlands or from another country and say: I’m going for the experience. But what will you do if you actually win a PDC Tour Card?”
According to Van der Voort, that is when the real challenge begins. A PDC Tour Card does not automatically guarantee a financially secure career. Travel, hotels, entry fees, and other expenses mount quickly, while players must also factor in taxes and any agreements with managers.
“Then they don’t know,” says Van der Voort about players who, after earning a PDC Tour Card, suddenly face major financial choices. He adds that some are then forced to make deals with managers just to fund their careers.
Financially not easy
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Van der Voort also questions some of those arrangements. He sketches an example of a player earning 100,000 euros a year but handing a large share to a manager. “Suppose you have a year in which you earn 100,000 euros. Then you might have an 80–20 contract. You’re left with 20,000 euros and you still have to pay tax on that. Then it hardly makes sense.”
Brody Klinge reached the final of the Australian Darts Masters last weekend
The coming period will therefore be interesting for Klinge. His final in Wollongong showed he has the darts to compete with the world’s best. Van der Voort clearly sees significant potential in the Australian. “He’s a really good player,” is his telling conclusion.
The next few years will show whether Klinge can truly make the step onto the international circuit. His display at the Australian Darts Masters has ensured his name is no longer under the radar. What began as a surprise invitation ended with a place in the final and the firm belief among observers like Van der Voort that there is much more to come.
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.